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Customers always ask us “How can I get more storage out of my closet space?”

There’s a growing array of exciting new products to meet those specialized needs. The newest addition is the Motorized Closet Lift from Häfele. This beautiful and functional product was recently featured on the nationally syndicated George to the Rescue show as the closet solution of choice for a young man in a wheelchair. It’s also an excellent solution for extremely high ceiling heights or for living in place needs, whether related to age, sports injuries or other range of mobility challenges.
How it works: Using a remote control, the Motorized Closet Lift lowers a full closet rod of hanging clothing to an easily reachable height; the vertical lowering range can be customized. If you want to see it in motion for yourself, it’s locally installed and available for viewing at the Symmetry Closets Factory/Showroom in Holbrook, NY.
“The Motorized Closet Life from Häfele is the ideal way to reclaim space and build either your closet or laundry area up, not out,” explains Scott Kaminski, Häfele’s Marketing Communications & PR Manager. “Our customers love that the wireless remote means the hardware does the work, not you.” The Closet Lift is also available in a manual, pull-down version.

The closet has changed. Long gone are the days when outfitting a custom closet was a simple choice between polished chrome or brass closet rods and then some fancy decorative hardware. Nowadays, we have a lot more stuff, as well as a lot more real estate devoted to our closet areas. Dream closets complete with in-drawer electrical outlets, lighted or color-coordinated wardrobe tubes, built-in USB ports for thirsty devices and integrated, pull-out ironing boards are just the beginning.

https://symmetryclosets.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/02/jan-blog.jpg329468adminhttps://symmetryclosets.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/01/Updated-Symmetry-Logo_010719-300x128.jpgadmin2019-01-05 19:31:412019-05-10 15:38:04Symmetry talks about Inspired lighting, accessories and so much more in this months House Magazine.

It’s the Most Wonderful Time of the Year

It’s the season of giving — why not give yourself the gift of space? We’re fully into the holiday season now, a time of celebration, and a chance to catch some great sales. So, how do you avoid overwhelming limited storage capacity when bringing new stuff into the home? Here are some practical and charitable ways to be a little lighter and brighter this holiday season.
Closets & Clothing

Establish a rule that when a new coat, shirt, or pair of shoes comes into the house, an old one must go in the give-away pile.

The wintertime is sock-time–go through the sock drawer. Look for those with holes or without a match, or those that never fit right, and get rid of them.

Instead of taking the sweaters from off-season storage and squeezing them into the closet, take a moment to look through them. Some are likely well-worn or ill-fitting, or haven’t made it off the shelf in years. Those can go into the give-away pile, leaving more room in the closet for the ones you enjoy wearing.

Once everything has been sorted through, take stock of what you have and need. Do you need more or less sock storage—maybe sweaters can be hung on pant hangers instead of folded on shelves (or visa versa). Bins and baskets can be great ways to store socks or gloves, hats, and scarves as well. If a total closet make-over is needed, you can call a professional closet designer to develop a tailored solution.

Coat Closet & Outerwear

Take a serious look through the coat closet. Which of the coats never got worn last year? Probably it never fit right, or is just not your style. Put it in the giveaway pile.

Sort through the winter-wear drawer. Most people have more hats, gloves, and scarves than they wear. If your favorite style gloves are worn out, now is the time to buy a new pair, before the stores are out of stock. This way, you can also find room for that gorgeous new scarf.

Look through the winter shoes, boots, slippers, booties. Again, now is the time to replace that worn out favorite style with something new that you love, and will wear all winter.

The winter shoes often get stored near the door in a pile. Consider the possibilities of a mud room with customized shoe storage. Once the snow starts falling, this could also accommodate the wet coats, hats and gloves.

Charities & Giving

Take a look at the give-away pile and smile! This is all stuff that cluttered your space. If you take it away, you can find the clothes you love, and buy replacements for worn out favorites without worrying about where to put them.

Best of all, there are so many charities that can take away your give-away items. There are veteran’s organizations, coat drives for the homeless, clothing drives for kids in need. You can clear your space and help people – a very good result.

https://symmetryclosets.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/01/Updated-Symmetry-Logo_010719-300x128.jpg00adminhttps://symmetryclosets.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/01/Updated-Symmetry-Logo_010719-300x128.jpgadmin2018-11-05 15:47:462019-05-10 15:40:49It's the Most Wonderful Time of the Year

Ring In The New Year

It’s that time of year—the Holidays are here! Around the edges of the holiday bustle, the good times with family and friends, there are usually also the moments of quiet introspection—of being “in the moment.” It’s a good time to take stock of all the experiences we’ve had this year, and what we envision for the new one.
The reflective nature of the holidays is encouraged by all the lights and shiny décor we embrace to brighten the long nights and short days around the Winter Solstice. From the twinkling lights to the mercury glass candlesticks, to the ornaments on the tree and hearth, to the fireplace itself—we seek out light and good cheer. As the holidays wind on down it’s a wonderful opportunity to take the time, and make space for you.
It can be as small as scheduling ten minutes a day to breathe or meditate. Or perhaps spending an hour reading a book, or taking a walk one morning a week in the woods or beach with your dog/child/favorite sibling….
Space for yourself can be larger, too. It can manifest as breakfast in bed, a nice bubble bath, or someone helping you clean out the basement/garage/closet/or that drawer in the kitchen. Some people would request a room of their own—to write, work out, do crafts, sew or knit, watch sports—the possibilities are truly limitless and fully customizable! Let’s make this year one of fulfillment, in which we get to enjoy achieving our goals. Let’s also make this a year in which we get some of those essential moments to take a breath, sit back and gain some perspective.
So in the spirit of acknowledging all the different ways to be reflective this time of year—we wish everyone a Joyous Solstice, Merry Christmas and Happy Hanukkah, a Delightful Kwanzaa, and a Healthy, Prosperous New Year.

https://symmetryclosets.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/01/Updated-Symmetry-Logo_010719-300x128.jpg00adminhttps://symmetryclosets.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/01/Updated-Symmetry-Logo_010719-300x128.jpgadmin2017-06-05 15:15:142019-05-10 18:54:40Ring In The New Year

How to Play with Color and Texture

Every year, the design community selects a color of the year for décor, and for fashion. This year, it’s Marsala! The rich ruby color is everywhere—from fashion runways to accessories. If you work with an interior designer, they’ll have the colors and styles factored into their unique design for your space. When we partner with designers, they help select the paint colors that will illuminate your rooms, and also the coordinating wallpaper, fabric textures and closet color to enhance your experience of your spaces.
When it comes to storage design, we can customize that to almost any use. For visual impact, the key factors are shown well in the handsome Long Island office shown to the right.
There’s a dramatic contrast between the white cabinets and the limited use of the stunning wall color. The strong linear impact of the door/drawer pulls and the curvy wallpaper pattern make for a highly functional and beautiful working space.

The complementary colors are chosen to pair well with Marsala. As you can see in the selection below, these can be utilized to modulate the dominant color, or can be simply used on their own.

We’ve designed closets to complement these shades in many contexts. Pantries are an area truly designed for “tasty” colors. Whether it’s an open or closed door space, it’s an opportunity for a fun shot of color—in a way that doesn’t require the commitment of a whole room.

Another color-friendly space for those new to color is the children’s closets. These are fantastic spaces for a touch of whimsy—and given a little time, the kids will grow into a new space anyway. You can design these to your colorful heart’s content!

https://symmetryclosets.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/01/Updated-Symmetry-Logo_010719-300x128.jpg00adminhttps://symmetryclosets.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/01/Updated-Symmetry-Logo_010719-300x128.jpgadmin2016-10-05 14:51:052019-05-10 19:06:06How to Play with Color and Texture

Get Connected With Häfele’s Loox LED Lighting System

Häfele brings innovation to the smart home space

From RGB and Multi-White strips to pucks and flat fixtures, Loox lights all

You can easily design with Loox. Or we can do the design work for you.

We describe Häfele’s Loox LED Lighting System in three simple terms—smart, easy and convenient. Whether it’s a fixture, puck or LED strip light, our products hold to that motto—and we think you’ll feel the same. Häfele is always thinking ahead, and with the addition of the Häfele Connect app, any current or future Loox lighting installation can be easily controlled by a Bluetooth enabled smartphone or tablet—a system like never before.

“The ability to control any Loox light from an app is a huge step forward into the connected home,” said Jeff Ratkus, category manager for Häfele. “This advance has a tremendous effect from the perspective of functionality and design as well as everyday livability and use.”

Now available in the Android and iOS app stores, the Häfele Connect app allows users to easily bring smart home technology to their home and work spaces. The app allows for real-time, programmed and customizable control of all Loox LED lighting fixtures and components through an easy to navigate and intuitive interface. Whether on a tablet or smartphone, the Häfele Connect App will make all current and future Loox LED installations smarter and enormously more functional.

Control lighting anywhere in your home

The combination of the Häfele Connect app and the Häfele BLE Box—the hardware that makes the magic possible—means that lighting in cabinets, drawers and cubbies in any space can be infinitely customized and personalized. Whatever the fixture, color temperature or color, it can be controlled with a simple swipe of the finger from your device.
The Brightest, Boldest Kitchen
Opening a drawer and having it immediately light up and then turn off when closed adds wow. As well as convenience and functionality. The same goes for pantries, cabinetry and any other darkened recess of the kitchen space. Under counter lights? Of course Loox can do that. All elements can be brought together to ensure years of brilliant, reliable and efficient performance for you and your customers.

With the addition of innovative switching options such as a Loox Push Button Dimmer or Loox Door Switch, you can add and control light in any scenario at any time

Know That Your Socks Match Your Outfit
Being able to integrate Loox strip lighting, pucks and fixtures into closet designs is a game changer for you and your clients. With the range of color temperatures available with Loox, it means that colors on the hanger and in pull-outs and drawers are as true in your closet as they will be when you step outside. Every time. Have items you’d like to highlight or call attention to? Add a Loox Glass Edge Profile light for accent and awe.
Shine the Light You Want Where You Want
Whether it’s a child’s little league trophy case, your collection of top shelf spirits or the album collection you’ve tireless collated, Loox is an ideal system for illuminating your particular sources of pride and joy. With the addition of innovative switching options such as a Loox Push Button Dimmer or Loox Door Switch, you can add and control light in any scenario at any time. With plug and play installation, it’s also easy to place anywhere a standard outlet can be found or installed.

The Common Reach-In Closet: Can it still Sparkle?

Going Vertical Just One Way To Maximize Space

We’ve probably all tried to live with our closets having just a single hanging rod and a shelf above. Most people don’t need a whole closet of long-hanging space, so the area below the hanging clothes ends up full of boxes and bins of stuff that won’t fit elsewhere. The depth is limited and the ceiling height can be high. People hope they can fit bulky items on the top shelf, but with only a narrow space between it and the doorway, they just don’t fit.
So, how do you find a way to work with the reach-in closet? Please try these expert tips. We’re certain you’ll have a happier relationship with your space, and find some beautiful sparkle too.

This reach-in closet is a collaboration with Wendy Interiors. Photo credit: Peter Braune

Use Principal of Verticality

This is the cure for the single rod-and-shelf conundrum. Add a storage system that includes double-hanging rods or shelves above half-hanging. Most clothing fits within half-hanging, and you’ll double your storage space. If you’re using a reach-in closet for off-season storage, consider setting it up with double hanging, long hanging and shelves for sweaters (so they don’t stretch out on hangers).

Drawer placement essential

If you want drawers, pull-out baskets or a hamper, they must be in the center of the swinging doors. This is necessary so the drawers can be opened easily, and so you can reach beyond them into the corners of the reach-in closet. And if there’s only a pair of sliding doors, that’s more limiting. You can have small pull-outs, but be very careful when measuring to make sure they’ll work in the open door opening.

Shelves keep It harmonious

Adding some shelves keeps the whole closet neater. It’s room for shoes, folded clothes, hats and scarves. With a custom-built closet system, the shelves are adjustable to adapt to the changing needs of your family. Ask your contractor to miter back the top shelf, to make it a narrower dimension. This provides a little more space for bulky items to fit through.

Children’s closets with adjustable features

Ask about having an extra closet rod to add in when your child needs larger sized clothes. With a custom closet system, the adjustable shelves can be removed, transforming a shelving unit into half-hanging, with a little planning ahead. Toy closets are usually reach-in closets as well. Just work with your contractor to make sure the storage system will accommodate the size and weight of the toys. And consider leaving space below the bottom shelves to roll in children’s toy cars and toy carriages.
Above all, your space should work for you. A house full of reach-in closets can provide great storage for your family, as long as it’s designed to fulfill your particular needs. A reach-in closet can be beautiful as well as functional, just use some of the tips and you’ll see.

https://symmetryclosets.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/01/Updated-Symmetry-Logo_010719-300x128.jpg00adminhttps://symmetryclosets.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/01/Updated-Symmetry-Logo_010719-300x128.jpgadmin2015-12-05 12:12:482019-05-10 19:22:26The Common Reach-In Closet: Can it still Sparkle?

Back to School Organization

Back to school can bring lots of clutter in several areas around the home. As storage professionals, we see all kinds of storage and work space problems develop while school gets into high gear.

Here are a few tips to alleviate the added stress:
(1) Organize the family coat closet. If space allows, consider adding double hanging for the shorter jackets. Adding a shelf or two for a few extra pair of shoes and the kids’ back packs does a lot to clear up the floor space.
(2) This year, don’t let the kids store their books and homework on the kitchen table; find a comfy space where they can do their homework and store their school supplies. This area can be just a small table or desk or even a big comfy reading chair with a bookcase for storage nearby. This way, all the school work and books can be contained in one area instead of overflowing throughout the family space.
(3) Keep the sports gear all in one dedicated space; an attached garage can be the perfect location. Just add a few hooks and baskets for cleats, helmets and pads and a tall bin or two for lacrosse or hockey sticks and baseball bats. You’re freed from having all this gear stuffed into your front coat closet, or scattered in the entryway or child’s bedroom.
(4) Finally, if you have a mud room area — make the most of it. Using some hooks for the jackets, shelves for shoes, a few baskets for hats or gloves and a couple of bins for book bags can go a long way toward keeping your home clutter free and happy. And remember to include a small bench so the kids can put on their shoes before they dash off to class!
Have a happy autumn.

https://symmetryclosets.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/01/Updated-Symmetry-Logo_010719-300x128.jpg00adminhttps://symmetryclosets.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/01/Updated-Symmetry-Logo_010719-300x128.jpgadmin2015-10-05 04:16:322019-05-10 19:24:24Back to School

A Place for Everything

Originally published in HOUSE magazine
By Bonnie Reich,
President and Owner at Symmetry Closets

We want our homes to look beautiful, to impress our friends and to feel comfortable—we want
to feel truly at home. I am a professional designer of small spaces: a professional closet designer.
My goal is to use every inch of usable space and have it function according to my clients’ needs.
After all, no two people are the same and everyone should have a closet that works for her/his
lifestyle.
I recommend so many wonderful and beautiful products and accessories that really make the
closet function at the highest level. I show my clients the latest materials and colors available for
their cabinets. But that’s where my work ends, and the interior designer takes over.
When my clients and I work with an interior designer, the closet really becomes a thrilling space.
Every detail beyond the cabinets is considered at another level. Interior designers bring their
resources and add details that make it sing. Some examples:
* Benches are covered in cushions coordinated with carpeting and window treatments
* Wall paper and interesting paint finishes add layers of texture, making these relatively small
spaces feel incredible
* Additional inlay materials are added to the door panels
* Hand selected handles and knobs are introduced to the design
* Even fun and funky pillows and throw are sometimes added to the design to make it a cozy
hide away that reflects the owner’s personality
Interior designers add other luxuries as well. Planning for an island in the walk-in closet? The
interior designer will bring fun, personal touches and accessories that make that incredible center
island a real stand out.
I have designed, fabricated and installed hundreds of walk-in closets, but the ones that are
memorable have all been as part of a team with an interior designer’s vision leading the way. For
your next interior design project, small or large, hire an interior designer. The result will be
satisfying, function well, and you’ll enjoy beautiful style for many years to come.

https://symmetryclosets.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/01/Updated-Symmetry-Logo_010719-300x128.jpg00adminhttps://symmetryclosets.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/01/Updated-Symmetry-Logo_010719-300x128.jpgadmin2015-08-05 04:11:552019-05-10 19:26:53A Place for Everything

Häfele brings innovation to the smart home space

From RGB and Multi-White strips to pucks and flat fixtures, Loox lights all

You can easily design with Loox. Or we can do the design work for you.

We describe Häfele’s Loox LED Lighting System in three simple terms—smart, easy and convenient. Whether it’s a fixture, puck or LED strip light, our products hold to that motto—and we think you’ll feel the same. Häfele is always thinking ahead, and with the addition of the Häfele Connect app, any current or future Loox lighting installation can be easily controlled by a Bluetooth enabled smartphone or tablet—a system like never before.

“The ability to control any Loox light from an app is a huge step forward into the connected home,” said Jeff Ratkus, category manager for Häfele. “This advance has a tremendous effect from the perspective of functionality and design as well as everyday livability and use.”

Now available in the Android and iOS app stores, the Häfele Connect app allows users to easily bring smart home technology to their home and work spaces. The app allows for real-time, programmed and customizable control of all Loox LED lighting fixtures and components through an easy to navigate and intuitive interface. Whether on a tablet or smartphone, the Häfele Connect App will make all current and future Loox LED installations smarter and enormously more functional.

Control lighting anywhere in your home

The combination of the Häfele Connect app and the Häfele BLE Box—the hardware that makes the magic possible—means that lighting in cabinets, drawers and cubbies in any space can be infinitely customized and personalized. Whatever the fixture, color temperature or color, it can be controlled with a simple swipe of the finger from your device.
The Brightest, Boldest Kitchen
Opening a drawer and having it immediately light up and then turn off when closed adds wow. As well as convenience and functionality. The same goes for pantries, cabinetry and any other darkened recess of the kitchen space. Under counter lights? Of course Loox can do that. All elements can be brought together to ensure years of brilliant, reliable and efficient performance for you and your customers.

With the addition of innovative switching options such as a Loox Push Button Dimmer or Loox Door Switch, you can add and control light in any scenario at any time

Know That Your Socks Match Your Outfit
Being able to integrate Loox strip lighting, pucks and fixtures into closet designs is a game changer for you and your clients. With the range of color temperatures available with Loox, it means that colors on the hanger and in pull-outs and drawers are as true in your closet as they will be when you step outside. Every time. Have items you’d like to highlight or call attention to? Add a Loox Glass Edge Profile light for accent and awe.
Shine the Light You Want Where You Want
Whether it’s a child’s little league trophy case, your collection of top shelf spirits or the album collection you’ve tireless collated, Loox is an ideal system for illuminating your particular sources of pride and joy. With the addition of innovative switching options such as a Loox Push Button Dimmer or Loox Door Switch, you can add and control light in any scenario at any time. With plug and play installation, it’s also easy to place anywhere a standard outlet can be found or installed.